By Lebone Rodah Mosima
The ANC said on Saturday it was “deeply concerned” about a communications ministry directive published in the Government Gazette that attempted to change empowerment and telecoms rules without going through parliament.
The directive forms part of an ongoing push by Democratic Alliance Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi, to align ICASA’s licensing approach with the ICT Sector Code and to recognise “equity equivalent” investment programmes as an alternative way for multinationals to meet empowerment objectives.
The directive was signed on Thursday and published on Friday.
It instructs telecoms regulator ICASA on the application of broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) rules in the information and communications technology sector.
“The ANC stresses that no minister may amend or suspend legislation via a policy directive,” the party said.
It said laws including the Electronic Communications Act and the B-BBEE Act “can only be changed through parliament
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